Archive for April, 2011

I was wondering if I can put my beliefs into easy bullet points. I’ll try. These are subject to change in the future but I like documenting my stages. I’m hoping to indicate the top ten beliefs I have that I act on. There are many other nice values that won’t make the cut.(more…)

I’m not likely to sign up at a gym which has a website with membership levels but without prices such as ACAC. I would consider gym memberships but I have to consider my budget first not after I’ve seen the facilities.

Furthermore, it appears as if it’s some big secret.

I just want to work out in a way that’s convenient to my lifestyle. Update your website if you want my kind of business. Don’t if you don’t.

Also, a note about Easter. If you are a store and you’re closed on Easter, put up a sign that says you’re closed. Some stores had zero signage to indicate they were closed and I bought my shoes online at 6pm.com for a nice discount instead of going back to the Charlottesville Rack Room shoes out of spite.

Petty, I know. But a sign saying “We are closed” or anything like that would have made a big difference. And yes, I will be reluctant to shop at the mall as well. It can afford a 50 foot flag flown by a firetruck but it can’t afford to say we’re closed on Easter? Lazy.

Texas’s governor would be better off praying for aquaducts. Or better than rain, pray for a more equitable distribution of weather.

On the other hand, I feel a little respect for the idea of trying to put the praying citizens onto the same subject. Mostly, from the article I read, he managed to forget all of his constituents who wouldn’t pray regardless.

Prayer is wasted in my opinion but it’s also specifically harmless and a protected form of expression. So I’m going to move on and focus on things that actually matter.

Neo-humanism sounds great (as mentioned by Paul Kurtz, not that P.R.Sarkar stuff). Nailing down a specific morality system seems naive. Focusing on child development is insufficient because we often point to all the people we could have better served when they were children while they are still out there as adults that could use our help.

I’m mostly defined by what I’m against. Most of what I end up going for isn’t nearly as awesome when I look at it up close. Idealism is great but my country isn’t great just because it’s my country. There should be a more objective measure of greatness. Criticism is a sign people are paying attention even if they are ignorant.(more…)

I’m an atheist and I’m trying to understand why I have a distaste for Humanist movements because mostly I agree with the principles. The principles tend to say broad things such as “advance happiness” and “tolerate same sex modes of expression”. These phrases relate to my distaste of the movement not that my distaste is decidedly fair or reasonable.

As an individual, I want to help advance society and learning and all that. But I also want to explore hedonistic kinds of activities safely and morally. But I feel that when a manifesto is made, maybe it must gloss over the fact that one of the ways to show respect for humanity is to help them minimize risks along potentially unwise paths. Religion is an unwise path but so is personal drug use. And an interest in pursuing the ranges of adult sexuality might be one too.

It probably waters down your point to include specifically that focusing on Humanism and our human qualities would include finding a dignified way to help people down the ideal path while acknowledging what choices belong to the individual. But I wish somebody would find a proper way to express that.

I used to be a card carrying terrorist. I was a member of Al’Chic Fila, Al’Targ’t, and Al’Gamst’p. I believed the best way to stop violence was with better executed violence. I trained in ninja, samurai, and military academies. Little did I know of a radio station in the heart of Charlottesville that began about five years ago called The Corner.

The music samples a wide range of popular alternative and lesser known artists. For commercial radio, it seems aware of its community and audience. Since listening, I have laid down my rocket propelled grenades and spent more times trying to win $1000 twice a day. I answer every call to my cell phone. I’ve seen every show every night at both the Jefferson and the Paramount and sometimes I fit in the Pavilion.

I stopped killing people because it’s wrong and also it doesn’t come with swag like iPhone covers. I’m Seth Strong and I’m The Corner.

She refills my coffee
And smiles softly
Says she’s dying and oddly
That grants her life quality

What would make her want to live forever

You can’t own women
But the fun ones like chains
But if her life’s slipping
Imagine infinite days

What would make her want to live forever

And I would quest forever
just to find out
I don’t even know her
or what she’s about
I’m all about living
all about figuring
out what I’m doing
with fewer inhibitions.

She floats like a silhoette
Stings like a bee
Feels like she’s poisoned
And dying is freedom
If it’s not suicide
but earned in the evening
Of a well lived life
Why would you leave it
If the choice were a thing
You could just re-up
If we could just meet up
on a vacation island
it’d sneak up

And she’d refill my coffee
and beam like a lighthouse
The kind that keeps ships safe
And never wants to goes out.

I absolutely love this topic. Basically, how to live with reusable and renewable energy and how to care for our environment are very important. However, it’s my growing opinion that nuclear energy has been given an undeservedly poor reputation. Nuclear power might be the cleanest energy we have available, period.

I’m not going to make big primary claims because I haven’t followed the discussion for as long as I’d like. I think nuclear power is the underdog and the right answer. And I keep reading blogs related to that. Here’s an exerpt from George Monbiot’s blog:(more…)

Check this out. The Friendly Atheist pointed out a real creepy youtube video in “A Pastor Tells Women How To Dress Moderately.” See it for yourself. In my words, the pastor is saying that women are making it hard for him to avoid lustful thoughts.

I totally have lust toward women I don’t know at times. My apologies ladies. I don’t mean it and I don’t mind it. But it is my job to act appropriate and respectfully with women just as I should act appropriately with anybody, gender unspecific. There’s an obvious reason why lust exists. There’s no argument against controlling yourself except the argument that you are not in control.(more…)

Here’s an article to load your memory. Abercrombie & Fitch invented a two piece bikini for 7 year old girls and cross dressing boys that includes a push up bra. I have a six year old daughter. I want you to remember that when I engineer through this issue, it is very relevant to me how best to treat this situation.

I spent an hour arguing with my girlfriend before I started homing in on my side of the argument. I sound all confused when I say I’m not arguing for the two piece or the push up top but I am defending people’s right to purchase the clothing. I’ll explain more after the jump.(more…)